Impingement Manifold Curved Flow Path Reduces Vorticity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine engines face inefficiencies due to air leakage between rotor tips and the outer diameter of the flowpath, leading to reduced engine efficiency, increased maintenance costs, and shorter service life, which existing impingement manifolds fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

The impingement manifold features a design with a continuous interior surface that alters fluid flow direction by 35-55 degrees, utilizing a ratio of radius to width curvature of 2-3, and includes dimples and bulges to reduce vorticity and pressure loss, constructed using additive manufacturing or casting processes, facilitating active clearance control systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the clearance between rotor tips and outer diameter is minimized to reduce air leakage, then engine efficiency is improved, but the risk of rotor tip contact with outer diameter increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair leakageVSAvoid rotor tip contact risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An impingement manifold system is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotor and outer diameter. The manifold receives cooling air and distributes it through multiple lobes to impinge on the outer diameter surface, creating a controlled airflow barrier that prevents direct contact between rotor tips and outer diameter while minimizing air leakage losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes pneumatic principles by employing pressurized cooling air flowing through the manifold and lobes. The air is directed at the outer diameter to create a protective气流 barrier, using fluid dynamics to prevent mechanical contact while maintaining clearance minimization for efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Temperature

If traditional impingement manifold designs are used, then cooling function is provided, but high vorticity and pressure loss occur reducing cooling effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidpressure loss

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The manifold incorporates curved transition sections with optimized radius-to-width ratios (2-3) instead of sharp angles. The continuous interior surface with gradual curvatures reduces flow separation and vorticity, allowing cooling air to reach the outer diameter with higher pressure and reduced energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes geometric parameters including the radius-to-width ratio of curvature (2-3), turning angles (35-55 degrees), and lobe configurations to minimize vorticity generation. These parameter changes transform the flow characteristics to reduce pressure loss while maintaining cooling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple separate components are assembled to form the manifold, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but flow path discontinuities and turbulence increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing flexibilityVSAvoidflow turbulence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The manifold is designed as a single integrated component with a continuous interior surface, merging multiple potential parts into one piece. This eliminates joints and discontinuities that would create turbulence and pressure loss, while the continuous surface allows for optimized aerodynamic flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The interior surface of the manifold is designed as a continuous homogeneous surface without abrupt changes or joints. This homogeneity ensures smooth airflow transition through the manifold and into the lobes, reducing turbulence and energy loss while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through additive or casting processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances the efficiency of gas turbine engines by minimizing air leakage, improving engine performance, extending service life, and reducing maintenance costs through effective cooling and flow management.

Implementation Method 1

an interior surface of the manifold is a continuous interior surface configured to alter a direction of flow through the manifold by an angle within the range of 35-55 degrees

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow direction alteration through curved surfaces:

Implementation Method 2

a clearance between the tips of rotors in the primary flowpath and an inner diameter of the primary flowpath is kept sufficiently small

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentEP3246524B1Impingement manifold

Publication Date: 2019.09.18 UNITED TECH CORP

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AI summary

An impingement manifold (100) includes a fluid inlet passage (120) and a pressurized chamber (160). The pressurized chamber (160) includes at least one lobe (150). The at least one lobe (150) includes a flow improving feature (140, 142) configured to minimize vorticity of a flow field within the pressurized chamber (160), and at least one flow outlet (130).